The apartment company involved in a dispute over alleged sign-stealing by Democrat Connie DeJuliis' state Senate campaign in northern Baltimore County has issued a statement defending her and asking both candidates in the race to remove their signs from the Parkville property.

Connie DeJuliis' husband, J. Ronald DeJuliis, the state's commissioner of labor and industry, has been charged with stealing campaign signs from his wife's primary opponent, incumbent state Senator Jim Brochin.

Dan D. Zaccagnini, a spokesman for Apartment Services Inc., whose Loch Bend Apartments were the site of the alleged crime, said DeJuliis has been granted permission to put her signs there.

"Connie DeJuliis had a right to place her campaign sings at the property located at Loch Bend Road & Joppa Road," the statement says. "Since Connie DeJuliis had a right to place her campaign signs at that location, her campaign volunteers -- including J. Ronald DeJuliis -- could remove and return any other campaign signs. In an effort to resolve this matter in a civilized manner, both campaigns have agreed to remove their signs from the property."

Ron DeJuliis has been under fire since news of the alleged theft broke last weekend. The chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee has called for his immediate resignation.

Connie DeJuliis has said the incident was a "misunderstanding." She says her husband took the signs because she had an "exclusive" right to put her signs there, but apologized for removing them, nevertheless.

Brochin has said Ron DeJuliis broke the law by taking his signs.

"The Dejuliis campaign will have the opportunity to defend itself and its actions in a court of law," he said. "I don't think it would be appropriate to comment on an ongoing criminal investigation."

Nina Smith, a spokeswoman for Gov. Martin O'Malley who has endorsed DeJuliis, said he will let the situation play out in court.

DeJuliis faces a misdemeanor charge of theft under $1,000 stemming from the alleged theft Saturday in Parkville. Also charged in the incident were Charles Philip Buttiglieri, 62, of the 900 block of Arncliffe Rd and Casey Akeem Addison, 29, of the 7600 block of Cedar Farm Drive. They face the same misdemeanor charge.